InvestigateTV - Season 3; Episode 26
(InvestigateTV) — This Week on InvestigateTV: Confusion over who’s responsible for clearing trees from power lines is leaving some homeowners feeling powerless. Caresse Jackman looks at how keeping lines clear keeps people safe. Plus, crash tests involving electric vehicles have a surprising result.
WHERE TO WATCH ICYMI – Watch last week’s episode.
Powerless: One of the largest causes of electric power outages in the nation is trees, or portions of trees, growing or falling into overhead power lines – particularly during severe weather. This can endanger the lives of people and property. One woman says she lost not one, but two homes due to power issues – including one fire sparked due to trees close to the lines. The issue for many homeowners or renters is confusion over who’s responsible for the sometimes pricey tree removal. Investigative Reporter Caresse Jackman examines the responsibility of utility companies when it comes to their role in vegetation management and looks into what’s being done nationwide to keep people safe when power lines become a hazardous risk.
EV Guardrail Crashes: According to Kelly Blue Book in 2023 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. As more EVs hit the road one study raises concerns about driver safety. What sparked those concerns? The vehicle batteries – specifically their weight. Electric car batteries have an average weight of around 1,000 pounds, with batteries in some SUVs coming in at nearly three times that number. While research shows heavier vehicles are safer for their own occupants, crash tests reveal that may not be the case when a crash involves a guardrail. Reporter Andy Pierrotti shows us the destructive test results.
Guardrails – Failure to Protect: Guardrails are meant to protect drivers from danger to keep them from falling off a road or to cushion them in a wreck. They can reduce serious injuries up 47% when they’re installed correctly. But when they’re not installed correctly, experts say they can turn from life-saving devices to killers on the road. Reporter Kristin Crowley shows us how big the problem is and how little is being done to fix it.
Watching Your Wallet – Side Hustles: Whether it’s driving an Uber or pet sitting in the neighborhood, a lot of people are turning to side hustles to supplement their incomes. In this Watching Your Wallet, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa gets advice from an expert about how to make a side hustle work for you.
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